Eli married Rebecca Malissa Starr, daughter of Alexander Starr and Isabelle, on 28 Dec 1871 in Crooked River, Ray County, Missouri. (Rebecca Malissa Starr was born on 12 Sep 1849 in Highland County, Illinois, died on 17 May 1917 in Webber, Jewell County, Kansas and was buried in Webber Cemetery, Webber, Jewell County, Kansas.)